The COVID-19 crisis: Effects on criminal violence and public security in Latin America

Latin America is the region with the highest incidence of homicides per-capita in the globe. Whereas the region accounts for only 13 percent of the world's population, it reports around 40 percent of total homicides. In many areas, criminal groups contend the state for dominance as they cash in billions of dollars from the drug trade. The COVID health crisis has disrupted the drug market and the balance of power within criminal organizations.

• U-M's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Department of Political Science
• International Policy Center